Cairo -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Egyptian police trying to clamp down on demonstrations against President Hosni Mubarak early this year were told to use tear gas , but not automatic weapons or live ammunition , a senior Egyptian police official testified Monday at Mubarak 's trial .

General Hussein Saeed Mohamed Mursi was one of several senior police officials due to testify Monday .

During his testimony , prosecutors attempted to cast doubt on Mursi 's credibility , as he was in charge of communication between police forces on the ground .

According to testimony , police were ordered to use police vehicles to disperse protesters , Egyptian state television reported .

The judge was forced to halt proceedings several times due to chaos in the courtroom , according to Egyptian state TV .

Confrontations between Mubarak 's lawyers and the prosecution caused the chaos , victims ' lawyer Amir Salim said on television .

The bickering started when Mubarak 's lawyers raised a picture of the deposed president , infuriating the victims ' lawyers , the station said .

Mubarak is charged with ordering the killing of protesters to quash the uprising in February that brought about an end to his 30-year rule . He faces a possible death penalty if convicted .

Outside the courtroom , clashes broke out between police and families of those killed in the uprising that led to Mubarak 's ouster .

At least 22 people were arrested and 26 people were injured -- 14 police officers and 12 protesters -- according to the Interior Ministry and the Health Ministry .

`` The policemen are beating us to please their commanding officers , '' said Amal Eid , sister of a teenager allegedly killed by police on January 29 . `` They do n't care about us or why we are even here . Nothing has changed . ''

Another man , Mohamed Yaseen , tried unsuccessfully to push his way inside court . `` There is no real revolution without bearing arms , '' he shouted .

The clashes began when the families of those killed tried to push their way into Cairo 's police academy , the site of the trial . Police used batons to beat them back . The family members , in turn , threw rocks and guard railings at the officers .

Police chased the protesters and family members , beating some and arresting others . After the melee , riot police circled the entrance of the court and cut off access .

A similar scene played out in August during a court appearance by Mubarak .

The trial resumed after a nearly three-week recess ordered by Judge Ahmed Refaat in part to give officials time to review evidence in the case .

Mubarak was wheeled into court on a gurney , flanked by nurses . It was his third appearance before Refaat , who ordered the trial closed in August -- a ruling partially imposed to protect potential witnesses .

Egyptians got a glimpse of an ailing Mubarak during pre-trial hearings in August when he was wheeled into court on a hospital gurney and put in an iron cage -- a standard procedure in Egyptian criminal trials .

Former Interior Minister Habib El Adly , a member of Mubarak 's inner circle , is being tried alongside the former president on similar charges . Attorneys for El Adly petitioned the judge Monday to separate the cases .

About 840 people died and more than 6,000 were wounded in the 18 days of uprising that toppled Mubarak , according to Amnesty International .

In addition to accusations of ordering the killing of protesters , Mubarak faces corruption charges . He has pleaded not guilty to the charges .

Also expected to appear Monday with Mubarak were his two sons , Alaa and Gamal . The two face corruption charges . They also have pleaded not guilty .

The elder Mubarak is the first leader since this year 's Arab Spring revolts to face a judge .

Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was tried in absentia after he was deposed in January and fled to Saudi Arabia .

Meanwhile , Cairo 's district courts have indicated they are considering filing individual charges against Mubarak for every person killed by his forces in the uprising .

CNN 's Salma Abdelaziz contributed to this report .

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Official : Police were told to use tear gas , not live ammunition or automatic weapons

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The judge repeatedly clears the court due to bickering between lawyers , state TV says

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Major clashes break out between police and protesters

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Hosni Mubarak faces a possible death penalty if convicted